Hydraulic jet propulsion apparatus

Claim 2

Jet propulsion apparatus for a water craft including a water intake housing, pump means for receiving water from said housing and discharging it rearwardly, a nozzle located rearwardly of said pump means for receiving water under pressure therefrom, a nozzle housing for rotatably supporting said nozzle, said nozzle comprising, an upper surface and a lower surface which converge together in a rearwardly directly to terminate in a rear portion, said nozzle also comprising side walls interconnected between said upper and lower portions, said nozzle being rotatable about a generally horizontal and transverse axis within said housing, said rear portion of said nozzle having a portion of its area blocked by said housing when the nozzle rotates to thereby vary the effective discharge area of the nozzle, said water pressure being discharged by said pump means acting on both upper and lower surfaces of said nozzle regardless of the position thereof so as to maintain hydraulic balance of the nozzle.

Claim 3

The apparatus set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said upper surface of said nozzle is curved downwardly in a rearward direction, said lower surface curves upwardly in a rearward direction, both of said surfaces defining a relatively high mouth of said nozzle as compared to said reaR portion of said nozzle, said surfaces together with said nozzle side walls defining a generally rectangular cross section in a vertical transverse plane.

Claim 4

The apparatus set forth in claim 1, including side vector steering valves, one on either side of said nozzle housing and extending outwardly therefrom, said steering valves being located ahead of said nozzle and subjected to full water pressure at all times.

Claim 5

The apparatus set forth in claim 3 further characterized in that said steering valves are of the butterfly type, and power means are connected to said valves for operation thereof.

Claim 6

In a jet propulsion apparatus of the type having an intake, pump means, and a discharge nozzle wherein water under pressure is discharged rearwardly of said nozzle to drive a water craft, reversing mechanism connected at the discharge end of said nozzle and comprising, a pair of generally U-shaped channel parts having their inlet end adjacent the discharge end of said nozzle, and means for slideably mounting said parts in lateral and opposite directions on said water craft whereby said parts can be moved laterally together to a position directly behind said nozzle for receiving the full jet stream therefrom, and a position laterally separated apart and away from said nozzle whereby said jet stream can pass directly therebetween.

Claim 7

In a jet propulsion apparatus of the type having an intake, pump means, and a discharge nozzle wherein water under pressure is discharged rearwardly of said nozzle to drive a water craft, reversing mechanism connected at the discharge end of said nozzle and comprising, a pair of generally U-shaped channel parts having their inlet end adjacent the discharge end of said nozzle, and means for slideably mounting said parts in lateral and opposite directions on said water craft whereby said parts can be moved laterally together to a position directly behind said nozzle for receiving the full jet stream therefrom, and a position laterally separated apart and away from said nozzle whereby said jet stream can pass directly therebetween.

Claim 8

The apparatus set forth in claim 5 further characterized in that said mounting means includes an upper and a lower track means secured to said water craft, roller means mounted on said parts for engagement within said tracks, and power means to selectively move said parts in lateral directions along said track means.

Claim 9

Jet propulsion apparatus for a water craft including a water intake housing, pump means for receiving water from said housing and discharging it rearwardly, a nozzle located rearwardly of said pump means for receiving water under pressure therefrom, a nozzle housing for rotatably supporting said nozzle, said nozzle comprising, an upper surface and a lower surface which converge together in a rearwardly direction to terminate in a rear portion, said nozzle also comprising side walls interconnected between said upper and lower portions, said nozzle being rotatable about a generally horizontal axis within said housing, said rear portion of said nozzle cooperating with said housing when the nozzle rotates to thereby vary the effective discharge area of the nozzle, said water pressure being discharged by said pump means acting on both upper and lower surfaces of said nozzle regardless of the position thereof so as to maintain hydraulic balance of the nozzle, and reversing mechanism connected at the discharge end of said nozzle and comprising, a pair of generally U-shaped channel parts having their inlet end adjacent the discharge end of said nozzle, and means for slideably mounting said parts in lateral and opposite directions on said water craft whereby said parts can be moved laterally together to a position directly behind said nozzle for receiving the full jet stream therefrom, and a position laterally separated apart and away from said nozzle whereby said jet stream can pass directly therebetween.

Claim 10

Jet propulsion apparatus for a water craft including a water intake housing, pump means for receiving water from said housing and discharging it rearwardly, a nozzle located rearwardly of said pump means for receiving water under pressure therefrom, a nozzle housing for rotatably supporting said nozzle, said nozzle comprising, an upper surface and a lower surface which converge together in a rearwardly direction to terminate in a rear portion, said nozzle also comprising side walls interconnected between said upper and lower portions, said nozzle being rotatable about a generally horizontal axis within said housing, said rear portion of said nozzle cooperating with said housing when the nozzle rotates to thereby vary the effective discharge area of the nozzle, said water pressure being discharged by said pump means acting on both upper and lower surfaces of said nozzle regardless of the position thereof so as to maintain hydraulic balance of the nozzle, and reversing mechanism connected at the discharge end of said nozzle and comprising, a pair of generally U-shaped channel parts having their inlet end adjacent the discharge end of said nozzle, and means for slideably mounting said parts in lateral and opposite directions on said water craft whereby said parts can be moved laterally together to a position directly behind said nozzle for receiving the full jet stream therefrom, and a position laterally separated apart and away from said nozzle whereby said jet stream can pass directly therebetween.

Claim 11

The apparatus set forth in claim 7 further characterized in that said mounting means includes an upper and a lower track means secured to said water craft, roller means mounted on said parts for engagement within said tracks, and power means to selectively move said parts in lateral directions along said track means.

Claim 12

The apparatus set forth in claim 7, including side vector steering valves, one on either side of said nozzle housing and extending outwardly therefrom, said steering valves being located ahead of said nozzle and subjected to full water pressure at all times.

Claim 13

The apparatus set forth in claim 9 further characterized in that said steering valves are of the butterfly type, and power means are connected to said valves for operation thereof.

Claim 14

Jet propulsion apparatus for a water crAft including an inlet housing defining a water inlet passage, said housing having an inlet at the bottom of said water craft, said passage extending upwardly and rearwardly from said inlet, pump means rotatably mounted rearwardly of and in communication with said passage, a power shaft extending through said housing and rearwardly through said passage, said shaft being journalled in said housing, a sliding seal means between said housing and said shaft and located forwardly of said passage to form a water tight seal between said shaft and said housing whereby said shaft can extend unobstructively through said passage, a nozzle located rearwardly of said pump means for receiving water under pressure therefrom, a nozzle housing secured to said inlet housing and for rotatably supporting said nozzle, said nozzle comprising, an upper surface and a lower surface which converge together in a rearwardly directly to terminate in a rear portion, said nozzle also comprising side walls interconnected between said upper and lower portions, said nozzle being rotatable about a generally horizontal and transverse axis within said housing, said rear portion of said nozzle having a portion of its area blocked by said housing when the nozzle rotates to thereby vary the effective discharge area of the nozzle, said water pressure being discharged by said pump means acting on both upper and lower surfaces of said nozzle regardless of the position thereof so as to maintain hydraulic balance of the nozzle.

Claim 15

Jet propulsion apparatus for a water crAft including an inlet housing defining a water inlet passage, said housing having an inlet at the bottom of said water craft, said passage extending upwardly and rearwardly from said inlet, pump means rotatably mounted rearwardly of and in communication with said passage, a power shaft extending through said housing and rearwardly through said passage, said shaft being journalled in said housing, a sliding seal means between said housing and said shaft and located forwardly of said passage to form a water tight seal between said shaft and said housing whereby said shaft can extend unobstructively through said passage, a nozzle located rearwardly of said pump means for receiving water under pressure therefrom, a nozzle housing secured to said inlet housing and for rotatably supporting said nozzle, said nozzle comprising, an upper surface and a lower surface which converge together in a rearwardly directly to terminate in a rear portion, said nozzle also comprising side walls interconnected between said upper and lower portions, said nozzle being rotatable about a generally horizontal and transverse axis within said housing, said rear portion of said nozzle having a portion of its area blocked by said housing when the nozzle rotates to thereby vary the effective discharge area of the nozzle, said water pressure being discharged by said pump means acting on both upper and lower surfaces of said nozzle regardless of the position thereof so as to maintain hydraulic balance of the nozzle.

Claim 16

The apparatus set forth in claim 11 including, a reversing mechanism connected at the discharge end of said nozzle and comprising, a pair of generally U-shaped channel parts having their inlet end adjacent the discharge end of said nozzle, and means for slideably mounting said parts in lateral and opposite directions on said water craft whereby said parts can be moved laterally together to a position directly behind said nozzle for receiving the full jet stream therefrom, and a position laterally separated apart and away from said nozzle whereby said jet stream can pass directly therebetween.

Claim 17

The apparatus set forth in claim 12 further characterized in that said mounting means includes an upper and a lower track means secured to said water craft, roller means mounted on said parts for engagement within said tracks, and power means to selectively move said parts in lateral directions along said track means.

Claim 18

The apparatus set forth in claim 11, including side vector steering valves, one on either side of said nozzle housing and extending outwardly therefrom, said steering valves being located ahead of said nozzle and subjected to full water pressure at all times.

Claim 19

The apparatus set forth in claim 14 further characterized in that said steering valves are of the butterfly type, and power means are connected to said valves for operation thereof.